Further, more than half of all adolescents live in countries where poverty contributes to widespread ill-health, including poor sexual and reproductive health. While the short window of time that comprises early adolescence is generally considered one of the healthiest life stages, it is also one that can encompass many social, physiological and cognitive changes, including those related to sexual and reproductive health, that have implications for well-being in later adolescence and young adulthood. The number of very young adolescents is large, and their numbers are projected to grow. The sexual and reproductive health needs of very young adolescents aged 10–14 in developing countries require increased attention. Delivering CSE, continuing to reduce levels of child marriage and sexual violence, emphasizing equitable gender norms, and providing financial incentives in education are some examples of strategies to support sexual and reproductive health among this age-group.ĪDDRESSING THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEEDS OF VERY YOUNG ADOLESCENTS.Slightly more than one-third of births to mothers younger than 15 in developing countries were unplanned. Very young adolescent females had an estimated 777,000 births in 2016 58% of these births took place in Africa, 28% in Asia and 14% in Latin America and the Caribbean.The proportion of adolescent females married before age 15 varies by country-from less than 1% to 24%-as well as by region, residence and wealth.Between 3% and 23% of adolescent females aged 13–17 report experience of sexual violence in the past year it is 0–13% among adolescent males. For many, first sexual intercourse happens as a result of coercion or violence.
While most very young adolescents report that they have never experienced sexual intercourse, some have begun to explore intimate relationships and to engage in noncoital sexual activities, such as kissing, hugging, fondling, and oral and anal sex.Many developing countries have national policies and curricula that support comprehensive sex education (CSE) in primary schools however, available data tell us little about the extent to which 10–14-year-olds are actually receiving CSE, or about the quality of such education.As such, it is a critical time to lay the foundation for positive sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Early adolescence is a period of rapid physical, social, emotional and cognitive changes.This report draws on analyses of national survey data and literature review results to provide an overview of the evidence on key aspects of sexual and reproductive health among very young adolescents aged 10–14 living in developing regions.The five boys were now back in the care of their parents. Mr Phakphum will face human trafficking charges, police said. He admitted he was infected with HIV and was being treated, police said. The suspect said he spent some of the money buying sex from boys. Customers paid the boys 2,000 baht a time. Identified only as "Phakphum", he was taken into custody by police led by Pol Col Jiradet Phrasawang, deputy chief of the Anti-Human Trafficking Suppression Division, on Thursday evening.įive schoolboys, all aged 14 years, were also taken into protective custody.ĭuring interrogation, Mr Phakphum allegedly admitted he had persuaded the boys to provide sex services for male customers for money. NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A gay man has been arrested at a resort in Sikhiu district for allegedly procuring five 14-year-old schoolboys to provide sex services for male customers. Phakphum, left, is questioned by police at a resort in Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district for allegedly pimping five schoolboys to male customers.